Rail ticket: Buy a day return to Netley any route permitted. This Book 1 walk works well in both directions, but in recent times rail timetables have made it preferable to do the walk "backwards", which we will be doing today. After a short(ish) walk from the railway station along the road into Botley, the route soon takes you over fields to Manor Farm with its visitor centre and cafe. From there you head down through woods on the meandering Strawberry Trail, with the River Hamble below you, passing a number of coves along the way. Swimmers: bring your cossies as two of the coves make for a pleasant swim. Non-swimmers (me) keep going to Burlesdon and Lower Swanwick where we stop for lunch at the Navigator pub, much improved since its days when called the Spinnaker (tel: 01489-572123). If there are more than 4 of you requiring luncheon, best 'phone ahead. Your e.t.a 13-10 hrs - a bit later for swimmers. After lunch you have a delightful, relaxing walk alongside the River Hamble, and once through Universal Marina, you have mud flats on your left and boat moorings and marinas to your right. After some 3 kms you take the Warsash Ferry to cross the River to the village of Hamble. You cannot miss the ferry - or its shelter on the eastern side of the River - as both are visions in shocking pink. In Hamble you can stop for a cuppa if you wish before heading over Hamble Common to the waters edge. You now walk along the stony beach to Southampton Water all the way to Netley (although you can take a woodland path parallel to and above the beach if you find walking along it hard-going). In Netley you walk up through the Royal Victoria Country Park to its main cafe for tea. Netley Chapel in the Park is still undergoing major restoration work, and has not yet re-opened to visitors. From the cafe allow fifteen minutes to Netley railway station, for your service back to London, either via Fareham or Southampton Central.. If the weather is kind to you today, you should enjoy this seaside-outing-with-a-difference. T=1.3 Walk Directions here L=1.3

Marc Ricketts, 27-Jun-18

I be on Holiday in Devon when some of yous do the Walk on the day. While Botley Brings me back Memories when I went Away with the School a long time ago. And we stayed at the Y.M.C.A Fairthorne Manor.

Marion, 17-Jul-18

Swimmers should bring their reef shoes as the pebbles are quite painful without! Could I suggest a posting of the Bournemouth and Studland Bay walk where the sand is clean and beautiful for swimming. Just got back from 3 days on the beach in wall to wall sunshine with a refreshing breeze and warm seas.

Walker, 18-Jul-18

7Cloudy till late afternoon then sunny. There were even spots of rain in the morning, which luckily did not come to anything because no one had brought waterproofs.

We quickly split into two groups two fast walkers, five slightly less fast. We five did the Hamble River route and even though it was low tide and the water looked a bit .... weedy.... two of us swam across the estuary at the prescribed swimming spot.

A nice lunch in the Navigator passing the fast walkers leaving as we arrived and then down the Hamble Estuary under brightening but not yet sunny skies. We caught the 3.30 ferry, not realising the 3.50 was the last, and had tea on the upper deck of the cafe on the far side.

A now sunny walk through the woods and up the beach along Southampton Water. Two of us swam when we got to Victoria Park and then we all hoofed it to get the 6.18 train. Unluckily this was cancelled. Luckily we were in time for the 5.51. Unluckily at Southampton all the Waterloo trains were delayed. Yours truly bailed out here to get a local train for a family visit. Hope the others got home eventually

Thomas G, 20-Jul-18

The two fast walkers had tea at the Cafe in Victoria Park and ploughed on to Sholing, in time for the 17.22 to Southampton. The connection, the 18.00 fast train to London, then couldn't leave the platform as the front part of that platform was still blocked by the 17.55 stopping service, awaiting relief train crew. So after some lengthy deliberations, our train then pulled back out the station to beyond the points and then travelled through the station along the westbound platform 4, half an hour late, and with the stopping service still marooned on platform 1A. What can go wrong, will go wrong...

We gave this Book 1 walk a spin in reverse last year and it worked quite well - so here it is again ! The original posting date has been brought forward by a week to take advantage of the train operator's fares promotion (last day 14 July), so hopefully the outing will be a bit more affordable than usual for our younger walkers.

The walk is easy and relaxing. Woods in the morning, with lovely coves offering opportunities for a swim, so do bring your cossies with you. Lunch is taken at the Navigator pub in Lower Swanwick, and then we set out on a walk beside the River Hamble along its causeway and banks. We then catch the Warsash Ferry to the western side of the Hamble, on through Hamble Common and then we walk along the beach to Netley, for tea at the cafe in the Royal Victoria Park. Those who feel like adding a few extra miles to today's walk can take the pleasant extension to Sholing.

For those who like seaside walks and a swim with some nice variety along the way (woods) you should really enjoy today's walk. The long(ish) train journeys are worth it. T=1.3 Walk directions here: L=1.3

Marion, 07-Jul-17

This swimming walk offers several opportunities both in the river Hamble and in Southampton water when the tide is right but bring your swim shoes/reef shoes as its very stony underfoot. If its a hot sunny day sunglasses and hats essential as you are walking towards the sun most of the time. It was great last year and 3 swims were enjoyed. Make the most of the tea stop which has plenty of refreshments as theres nothing at Netley station at the finish.

branchline, 12-Jul-17

Is it possible to buy the £13 ticket at the ticket office/machines tomorrow morning?

Walker, 12-Jul-17

You can buy the £13 tickets from the machines at Waterloo certainly. Select "SWT services only" and it automatically gives you the special offer

Walker, 13-Jul-17

7 on this walk, on a day of sun and cloud. The cloud was inland, the sun more on the coast, so it got sunnier as the day went on, culminating in a glorious golden finish along Southampton Water, which with its pine fringed coast felt a bit like a Greek island.

In the morning fields (one full of ground skimming swallows) and woods brought us to the upper reaches of the Hamble Estuary. Two of us swam here and at least two swam vicariously that is to say, they did not swim but seemed keen to see us do so. Despite an incoming tide one could swim quite a way out before the current started to pull you up river.

A briskly served lunch in the Navigator, rubbing shoulders with the Hamble River yacht set, a walk through boatyards with their interesting operations, then down the lovely Hamble Estuary at high tide. The pink ferry took six of us across it and we very politely waited in the cafe on the far side (big staff, disorganised service: they were no longer doing hot food but made a meal out of serving tea and cakes) for the seventh to get the next ferry. One of the group shared her memories of her childhood in Hamble village.

Then what for me is always the highlight: a walk up the beach of Southampton Water In the sparkling afternoon sun. Interesting shingle flowers and two of us (the same two) had an idyllic swim from the beach of Victoria Park as a Chinese container ship glided placidly by. A third walker watched our bags, for which thanks.

The other four headed straight for the train I presume and so missed the final treat, which was the majestic Queen Mary 2, the only transatlantic liner, the largest liner ever built, slipping its moorings and gliding down Southampton Water to the sea. Inbound from New York that morning, outbound for the Norwegian fjords. I am not a cruising person but just for a moment I wished I was going with her.

Instead we got the 6.18 train.

Anonymous, 15-Jul-17

Hi, please would someone post this walk on a Saturday before the end of Summer. I was so envious but can't walk on Thursdays. Thanks, Debra

Rail ticket: suggest a day return to Netley all routes permitted. If you do not possess a travel card check with the ticket office - it may be cost effective to buy an all zones travel card and then an onwards day return to Netley all routes permitted.

The Netley to Botley walk does not get many outings, due to the journey time and cost of travel, and best I know this is the first posting of this walk "backwards" - or in reverse. Why in reverse today? Possible because I am awkward and known in the SWC for doing walks in reverse, but also it should make a lovely outing today in reverse direction if the weather is nice - and it's probably the last chance to do this walk in summer conditions this year. The cost of the rail ticket is not cheap (sorry -we missed the SWT offer) but as a one off - why not treat yourself !

From Manor Farm we will take the Strawberry Trail route down through woods toward the river passing some pretty coves on the way before heading for Bursledon and lunch at the Navigator Pub. After lunch we have a relaxing, 3 km walk along the causeway beside the River Hamble, passing by marinas, a boat yard and mudflats before taking the Warsash Ferry (a vision in shocking pink) across the river to Hamble. Then it's over Hamble Common and through its woodland before we take a 2 km walk along the beach beside Southampton Water, turning right into Royal Victoria Park and Netley Chapel, with a cafe in the Park for tea, Netley railway station for your journey home is nearby.

Swimmers: bring your cossies with you as there are swimming options in the coves along the Strawberry trail or near the jetty at Hamble or along Southampton Water - if the weather is nice and tide times are favourable (check the link in the website version of walk's directions).

Intend going....and extending the route past Netley by countinuing along the coast, do a bit of stravaiging in Westwood Woodland Park, then back along the river, and along Itchen Way up to Sholing Station. If that is a nice route (it looks like it might be, on the map), then maybe reverse the walk for good and make it a proper length?

Anonymous, 13-Sep-16

9 miles is fine esp in this heat !

Marion, 13-Sep-16

Intend going and 9 miles is quite sufficient for me too.

Anonymous, 14-Sep-16

There's no stopping our Thomas.Some say he will swim Southampton Water to Hythe and then play a round of golf at Dibden Golf CentreLegend!

Anonymous, 14-Sep-16

Was unable to go regrettably as in court fighting against neighbours from Hell. Lovely day for a trip to the Coast.jfkAt last had a minor victory against the criminals.

Walker, 15-Sep-16

9 on this walk, which works really well in this reverse direction. Our walk poster has cleverly varied the morning route (ie the afternoon in the original direction) so that it hugs the side of the Hamble estuary pretty woodland with glimpses of the water. One glimpse was particularly nice and given the hot sun three of us decided to "live the view" and go for a swim a delicious dip in a tranquil arm of the sea.

Lunch at the pub surrounded by yacht repair yards was pleasant enough and the walk down the Hamble in the bright sun was very nice too. It felt like summer would never end. Having crossed in the funky pink ferry we then gained Southampton Watwr, walked past the oil storage facility and on up the sun drenched shingle beach. We just about got to the peaceful Royal Victoria Park in time for tea; early arrivals got tea pots, stragglers paper cups. But this is a nice tea stop when doing the walk in this direction.

Our intrepid long distance walker then went off to pioneer an extension to the walk. The others went for the train but three of us decided to swim in Southampton Water, which looked simply idyllic in the setting sun. Slightly off putting on closer inspection was that the water was very brown near the shore, but a bit further out it was much cleaner and the low sun on the silky surface made for a simply dreamy experience. Something to treasure in the cold grey winter.

A long two hour train ride home. A pity there was no obvious place in Netley to buy provisions for the train.

Anonymous, 15-Sep-16

Following on from Walkers prose, 5 who skipped the evening swim caught the 5:43 Southern Train to Southampton Central (delayed to 5:53). This station has the usual Mainline Station outlets offering a chance to pick up nibbles and drinks.Fast train (1 hour 30 mins) back to Waterloo at 6:30pm probably the best return journey option.With the sky clear and little wind we glimpsed a Hot Air Balloon in the evening skies over Hampshire as we sped towards the Great WenA cracking day out with plenty of variety.